Study suggests states' law schools admissions are unfair

Phoenix, AZ – A new study by an organization opposed to affirmative actioncontends that minorities are more likely to be admitted to thestate's two public law schools than similarly qualified Anglos.Arizona Public Radio's Howard Fischer reports.

The study by the Center for Economic Opportunity finds minoritiesadmitted to law schools at University of Arizona and ArizonaState University had, on average, both lower grades and lowerscores on the Law School Aptitutde Test. Roger Clegg, theorganization's president, said universities use those todetermine if students will succeed.

(So if students have lower LSATs and lower undergraduate gradepoint averages then the law school itself ought to believe thatthose students are less likely to succeed. Otherwise theywouldn't be looking.)

But Shelli Soto who is dean of admissions at ASU law school saidLSAT scores and GPAs are only part of the picture.

(There are also some people who have less strong LSAT scores butare perhaps incredibly strong in terms of their work experienceor their public service experience, or something about theirbackground and experiences personally that gives that person theability to contribute in a unique way to our learningenvironment.)

The figures are likely to become part of the debate if WardConnerly, unable to get his anti affirmative action measure onthe November ballot, tries again in 2010.